In order to enroll for health insurance benefits, you must submit Standard Form 2809, Health Benefits Registration, within 60 days of your entry-on-duty date, or the date you first become eligible to enroll. Health plans provide varying benefits at various costs. If you fail to enroll in a health insurance plan within 60 days of becoming eligible, you must wait until the next Open Season period or qualifying live event (QLE) to enroll. Your eligibility is based on your type of appointment and work schedule. Generally speaking, all employees with a full-time federal appointment are eligible for the FEHB program. If you have a temporary full-time or part-time appointment and you complete one year of current continuous employment, you are eligible to enroll in the FEHB program at 102% of the cost of coverage. You are covered from the effective date of enrollment without a medical examination or restrictions based on your age or preexisting condition. The program offers virtually immediate coverage by taking effect on the first day of the pay period that begins after the HRO receives your completed application.

All permanent and indefinite technicians with regularly scheduled tours of duty are eligible to enroll in the FEGLI. The government pays one-third of the cost of your basic life insurance and you are automatically covered for basic life unless you waive this coverage. If you are eligible for basic coverage, you may select additional options by submitting Standard Form 2817 within 31 days of the date of your appointment or qualifying life event (QLE). Some examples of a QLE are marriage, divorce or the birth/acquisition of a child. Temporary NTE technicians are ineligible for FEGLI coverage unless they convert from a covered position to a non-covered position without a break in service under the Continuity Rule.Technicians on Leave Without Pay (LWOP), to include military active duty, will continue to be covered for a period not to exceed one year at no cost to the employee. You may continue your FEGLI coverage into retirement if you have been covered for the 5 years immediately preceding your retirement or from your first opportunity to enroll.

This is a tax-favored program to set aside pre-tax money to pay a variety of health-care or dependent-care related expenses (dental, medical, vision). FSAs are not carried over from year to year; you must renew enrollment each year. Enroll 60 days from your date of appointment or an open season each year (mid-November through mid-December). Permissible changes are based on qualified status changes (marriage, children, employment, residence, dependents eligibility, etc). Individuals in LWOP-US status may also cancel coverage. The FSA is administered through a third party contractor.

The Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 provided OPM the opportunity to establish arrangements under which supplemental dental/vision benefits are made available to Federal employees, retirees, and their dependents. Dental/Vision benefits are available to eligible Federal and Postal employees, retirees, and their eligible family members on an enrollee-pay-all basis. This Program allows dental insurance to be purchased on a group basis which means competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations. Premiums for enrolled Federal and Postal employees are withheld from salary on a pre-tax basis. Enrollment takes place during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season in November and December. New and newly eligible employees can enroll within the 60 days after they become eligible.

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement savings and investment plan for Federal employees and the members of Uniformed Services. Employees covered by Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement Service (CSRS) are eligible to enroll, members of the uniformed services are also eligible to enroll. Employees that are covered by Social Security “Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) only” are not eligible to enroll.

The TSP is a defined contribution plan, meaning that the retirement income you receive from your TSP account will depend on how much you (and your agency, if you are eligible to receive agency contributions) put into your account during your working years and the earnings accumulated over that time. Eligible employees may immediately begin to contribute to TSP, they also may make contribution allocations at any time; participants may make interfund transfer requests twice a month. New employees will immediately be enrolled into TSP; automatic contributions will be made into the G Fund at three percent. Participants can also opt out and request a refund of their contributions.

Temporary employees are not eligible to contribute to the civilian TSP program.

It is imperative to notify HRO to update your personal records if you have any change in familystatus such as marriage, birth/adoption of a child, divorce, or death of a family member. Death often occurs when least expected. You should have your personal affairs in order and keep your family informed regarding your benefits and entitlements. In the event of your death, a representative from the Human Resources Office will assist your family in filing a death claim. You do not need to prepare a designation of beneficiary form unless you wish to designate your beneficiaries other than “by-law”. If you do designate beneficiaries; you must keep your designations current because once a designation has been made, it overrides a will or any other legal document. Benefits paid are:

Unpaid wages

Federal Employee Group Life Insurance

Thrift Savings

Retirement annuity or refund of contributions

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)

The FLTCIP is insurance to cover the care needed to perform daily activities if the employee is suffering an ongoing illness or disability. It is not for acute care or the type of care received in a hospital. This is the only government-endorsed long term care insurance program for current and retired employees. Its purpose is to pay for long-term home-care, nursing home or assisted living services. Technicians are initially eligible within 60 days of appointment or can apply via the full underwriting application directly with the LTC Partners, LLC. LTC is administered through a third party contractor to form The Long Term Care Partners, LLC. For more information visit: www.ltcfeds.com